Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-09-11
DESERTERS
THEIR RBCAPFURB DURING THE LAST OF
THE WAR.
Men Hunted Down Like Digs and Compelled 10
Fght-Dspsrats Stragglss-A OOnSsrpt in
Pethooas Roeing Corn.
philad,lphid Times

Philadelphia Times.
In the summer of 1864 Writ Adams
cavalry, after an arduOus campaign, rested
to recruit men and horses in Shepherds old
fields in COpiah county, Mississippi. Food
| and forage were abundant, the horses grew
fat and the lazy life soon wearied the men
whose home was in the saddle.
Time dragged, but Sergeant Heath's old
Creeper created diversion one morning by
stampcding the Brigade horses, which
were all loose at grass. Creeper knew a
thing or two and counted on fan when he
laid his plans
Working around the 2, 600 grazing horses
until all were between himself and the
camp in the woods, the old horse, whose
wisdom was known and acknowledged
throughout the brigade, took his stand and
surveyed the ground. With a wild snort
and a ringing neigh he sprang into the
herd. What he intended to convey to the
understanding Of his fellows cannot say,
but panic seemed to seize each separate
beast, and with laundering hoofs they bore
down upon the camp.
Then was there mounting in hot haste"
the friendly trees beneath whose shelter
We bivouacked. Mad, blind with an I'M
named terror, and turning not aside, like
an avalanche the flying squadron swept
through the camp. With the streaming
name and tail, head on high and flashing
eyes, that old demon Creeper led his fright
ened hosts. 1t was plain to see that he
gloried in the mischief he had wrought.
The camp monotony was broken at last
when the OUTLYING scouts reported the ad-
vance of Federal incursiOn from Bruins
burg on the Mississippi river.
This force of white and negro troops,
composed of infantry, cavalry and field ar
tillery, and, amOunting in all TO about ! 200
men, had been landed from transports on
the river, presumably for the purpose of
surprising and capturing our forces at Shep-
herd old fields. Timely warning enabled
General Adams TO meet them more than
half way.
Eleven miles south of Port Gibson is
Coleman s lane. in the county Of Jefferson,
and here the advance parties Of the hostile
forces met. Hot skirmishing and an ex-
change of shells from the field batteries on
either side opened the engagement.
The enemy had posted himself in and
about COleman's dwelling, barns and out
buildings. Here we assaulted him and
drove him out aud back after short re-
sistauce.
The Federal force greatly outnumbered
ours, but would assuredly have been cap
tured had the white contingent been as
easily demoraliz>d as were the negro
soldiers Time after time these men, COM
posing the rear guard of the Federal COM
mander drew off his forces were broken
and hurled helter-sketer upon the main
body. and only the stubborn fighting of the
white troops enabled any portion of the
command TO escape.
Darkness fell while we still pursued
them, and the chase was not given over
until near midnight, when exhaustion
compelled n halt. Daybreak found the
enemy on board his transports, and the
fleet steamed away for Natchez. ! have
often thought that had the Federal forces
been skilfulIy commanded on this occasion
General Adams would have found that his
attack was a rash venture.
Had his force been third larger not
blue coat would have escaped. To the
best of my knowledge the Confederate
force did not exceed 400 men, while | am
sure / saw three times that number OF the
enemy. They had also the advantage of
strong position OF their own selection,
taken rs soon as made aware OF our APP
proach. Our first rush, however, drove
them from it, and their officers found it
impossible fully to rally the negro troops.
A young cavalryman, intent upon glory,
went, contrary to orders, mounted into the
action. Soon he was seen on foot rushing
to the rear. 'Hello, Jones, where now?"
my horse was shot from under me, and
| am going back for another" Again he
flies TO the rear, and again reports his horse
killed Five separate times that day and
night his horse was shot through and
through" Next day all five of those I'M
fortunate animals were found unscratched,
peacefully grazing among the slain.
| Among the Southern soldiers duties,
one Of the least important toward the close
of the war was that OF bringing in from
the hills and forests and habitatiOns in the
wilderness deserters from the armies and
slippery conscripts who sought to evade
the service.
They would stand when we paused, but
each succeeding onset speedily broke their
ranks. Their fire was very high. Far
above our heads the minnie bullets sang
an angry chorus and our loss was trifing
| At intervals, when crossing an eminence, "A
man would fall in the darkness.
Andrew Battle, arugged lrishman, went
back for a horse TO carry off the body of
Ed Sueduskie, a mess mate. Whom
have Won there?'' he was asked from a
bank on the roadside. Poor I'D Suedus-
kie as dead as h" he answered.
That's lie, Battle" replied his ques-
toner, who was none other than Sueduskie
himself. Down went the unknown dead
upon the ground, and Battle, with an oath
strongly suggestive Of disgust, resumed his
place among the pursuers.
The cavalryman's soul delighted in this
work for a while As detail for such an
expedition meant relaxation from the dis
cipiue OF the camp; exemption nom the
hardships OF the march, and variety in
place of irksome routine: There was also
spice of adventure, for deserters would
sometimes fight, though skulking was
their strong point.
The writer was one OF 20 men, under the
command of lieutenant, sent during the
early part of 1864 into Scott and lake
counties, in Mississippi, on a nar-hunting
errand. CaGa Was abundant, and our
Offioer was provided with formidable list
of those to be run down. We took guide
from a neighboring county, whose name
was Pigue. He knew the country and he
knew the people, and he went discussed.
The first house we visited WIS watched
in vain for several days. Authentic infor
nation said there should be two deserters
! thereabOuts